KEEPSAKES OF CONFLICT: Trench Art and Other Canadian War-Related Craft

September 15 - December 31, 2016

Reception: Friday, September 16, 2016 @ 7:30pm

Organized by the MJMAG; Guest Curated by Heather Smith

“Trench is defined as any item made by soldiers, prisoners of war and civilians, from war material directly, or any other material, as long as it and they are associated with armed conflict or its consequences.”[i]

The 100th anniversary of the First World War has been an opportunity for the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery (MJM&AG) to examine the little-studied area of Canadian craft related to war. This traveling exhibition was organized by the MJM&AG and guest curated by Heather Smith. MJM&AG acknowledges the generous funding support provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Museums Assistance Program and sponsorship by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 59.

i. This definition comes from page 11 of Nicolas J. Saunders’ book, Trench Art: Materialities and Memories of War (Oxford: Berg, 2003). Saunders is a British archaeologist and anthropologist who has written widely on the subject of trench art. See his book for an expanded version of this definition.

Since the Crimean War and perhaps earlier, craft making was used as a means to help wounded soldiers recover from both physical and mental trauma. Canadian soldiers in hospitals in Britain during both World Wars were encouraged to do embroidery or wickerwork. After the First World War, in order to help wounded veterans learn skills to help them reintegrate into society, the Canadian Red Cross set up VetCraft Shops across Canada. The wounded men working at these craft workshops produced a wide range of objects including furniture, wooden toys, baskets, picture frames, weavings, tin and other hammered metal wares, and many other items. They also hand cut the first red poppies used to commemorate Remembrance Day. Craft therapy continues today in Canada as a treatment for what is now known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD.

During wartime, there is more leeway given to soldiers to individualize aspects of their kit. Some changes are made to improve the function of the equipment, but modifications are also tolerated for the sake of morale. Alterations to the actual uniform during wartime are generally only in areas that can be concealed or easily reverted back to their original state. There are some exceptions such as Second World War Canadian non-commissioned members’ battle dress tunics which were highly customized in the field and worn home as such in 1945. Tactical and unit/formation signs were painted on helmets by Canadian soldiers in both World Wars, but more creative imagery was not tolerated until post war[J1].[i] The First World War belts of collected buttons and insignia could be worn under or over a tunic. Currently, Canadian service members unofficially customize their uniform by creating and collecting “morale patches” for individual deployments or missions.

461 Langdon Crescent

Moose Jaw/SK/S6H 0X6/Canada

p.306.692.4471 f.306.694.8016

Tuesday to Sunday

noon to 5:00pm

Closed Mondays

The Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery gratefully acknowledges funding assistance from the City of Moose Jaw, the Saskatchewan Arts Board, Saskatchewan Lotteries and SaskCulture Inc., the Museums Assistance Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage, Assistance to Art Museums and Public Galleries from the Canada Council for the Arts, SSW, and CIF.